Creative Commons: “Help protect the public commons from secret deals.

All creativity and knowledge owes something to what came before — every creator builds on the ideas that came before them. Copyright is at the center of the public commons — it’s a limited right that is given to creators, but it also has a term limit to ensure we all benefit from culture and knowledge. Both elements are needed for a vibrant culture and the proliferation of knowledge.

Creative Commons believes that whenever the terms, scope, or duration of copyright are under discussion, lawmakers should consider not only the interests of copyright-holders, but also the rights of others to access and use copyrighted materials. Copyright law should strike a balance, giving an incentive to create while also giving the public permission to use and build on that creativity.